If you’re looking to support homegrown businesses this Easter, check out these delicious creations
With just under two weeks until Easter Sunday, there is still time to treat yourself or a loved one to a chocolate egg crafted by a talented Irish artisan. While there is a plethora of choice for all budgets in supermarkets across the nation, if you’re looking for something a little extra special, look no further…
Ashford Castle
The 2026 Ashford Castle Easter Egg (above) is inspired by the last Guinness apple tree on the Estate, planted over a century ago when the Guinness family called the castle home. Still bearing fruit today, this historic tree sparked imagination for Paula Stakelum, Global Director of Chocolate & Patisserie at Red Carnation Hotels. Each egg is meticulously hand-painted, with layered greens and reds as a nod to the trees’ leaves and fruit. Handcrafted using the estate’s exclusive Valrhona ‘Legend’ 55% milk chocolate, the egg is filled with 29% ‘Legacy’ milk chocolate shards, with notes of roasted hazelnut, symbolising the tree’s bark. Priced at €75, this is most definitely a luxury egg, and it is available to purchase exclusively at Mrs Tea’s Boutique, located on the Ashford Estate grounds in Co Mayo. Lucky guests staying at Ashford Castle during Easter will be welcomed with an egg in their room on arrival.
Clo Chocolates
This year, the Sligo chocolate makers have collaborated with renowned Irish designer Shane O’Driscoll for its Atlantic Milk Easter Egg, handcrafted with smooth, creamy 33.6% Irish milk chocolate, with its signature Atlantic praline, Sligo-made Knocknarea honey and award-winning Donegal sea salt. Celebrating the best of the Atlantic ways suppliers and artists, each egg is €24.95.
Butlers Chocolates
Founded in 1932, and manufactured in a dedicated, state-of-the-art Dublin factory, Butlers has a long history of chocolate artistry. From adorable chocolate bunnies and chicks to mouth-watering flavour combinations, like this new Hazelnut boxed egg, these decadent offerings come with an equally tasty price tag, starting at €8.50 to €16, with the Giant Wrapped Egg costing €28. Find more here.
Temptation Chocolates
Fan of banoffee pie? You’ll love this egg, made and hand-painted in Co Laois, using a 38% milk chocolate, with beautiful vanilla notes and a silky smooth banana caramel lining. This triple-layered egg is finished with a high cocoa milk chocolate and biscuit crunchy layer, and comes with truffles hidden inside. €48, click here to see all luxury eggs on offer.
Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates
This Easter, Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates is putting a fresh spin on seasonal favourites, from bright, spring-inspired flavour notes to rich, comforting classics. Each egg is handmade in Kildare and includes some of the brand’s most popular chocolates such as the Desserts Collection, Crispy Hearts and Sticky Toffee Chocolates, as well as new flavours like this smooth white chocolate egg infused with zesty lemon extract and sprinkled with dried raspberry pieces, €18.
Tara Gartlan Chocolate
Tara Gartlan, a skilled pastry chef and chocolatier based in Co Monaghan, has created truly decadent, creative Easter egg offerings, each one handpainted, handcrafted and unique. Choose from Raspberry and White Chocolate, Passionfruit Caramel (above), Double Fudge and Hazelnut Rocher, all €48 each. Find more here.
Baileys Chocolates
The Baileys Chocolate collection is a combination of the finest Irish Lir Chocolate and a touch of Baileys Cream Liqueur. As well as the ever-popular Baileys Chocolate Original Easter Egg, featuring a smooth Baileys-flavoured milk chocolate shell and a selection of indulgent Baileys Chocolate Truffles, or The Baileys Salted Caramel Egg (both €15), the new Baileys Caramelised Popcorn Egg is packed full of whole pieces of caramelised popcorn for that sweet-and-salty crunch. All eggs are €15 and housed in striking boxes with no plastic fitments, as the chocolate factory continues its journey towards reducing plastic in its packaging and providing more sustainable products. Find it in various retailers nationwide.
Bean and Goose
Inspired by the Bean Goose — a rare winter visitor to Ireland’s shores — this limited edition figure is crafted from 36% Esmeraldas white chocolate, cultured Irish buttermilk, early rhubarb and Madagascan vanilla. Each Goose is accompanied by an illustrated Easter postcard by Anne O’Hara, inspired by Ireland’s landscape and wildlife. €30.50
Bon Chocolatiers
The Tullamore chocolate makers unsurprisingly sold out of their limited-edition ‘Mikado egg, filled with raspberry pâte de fruit and fluffy raspberry marshmallow, finished with a layer of milk chocolate and buttery shortbread pieces. However, there are still delicious options to choose from, including the Cacao Nib Crunch Egg (€26.50) and the Cool and Crisp Egg (€43). Find them here.
Grá Chocolates
Among the eye-catching designs by the Galway chocolatier is the Egg-ceptional Dark Egg (€25) for lovers of dark chocolate. Each generous egg half is made from silky-smooth 70% chocolate that captures the nuanced notes of the cacao bean, and filled with dark chocolate caramels with a hint of sea salt. For the full Easter collection, click here.
Sugar Plum Sweetery
The Mullingar chocolatier and confectionary brand has the ultimate egg for Kinder Bueno fans: the Bueno Boss egg (€39.95). Made with a minimum of 34% cocoa solids and 21% milk solids, its premium chocolate is embedded with with its popular hazelnut Bueno centre. Check out the website for more treats.
NearyNógs
Northern Ireland’s first bean-to-bar chocolate producer has created these adorable ‘Some Bunny Loves Me’ chocolate-and-caramel-filled bunnies, made with Ecuador 60% chocolate and vegan, sea-salted caramel. As the team behind NearyNógs says: “We ethically source sustainable cacao beans, supporting the rainforest alliance and we practice direct trade where possible. We pay above market value for cacao beans, to ensure that the cacao farmers get a living wage, ensuring survival of the cacao industry and the farmers’ livelihoods. We want to honour the farmers, the cacao and the maker”.
Chez Emily
For chocolate-lovers who are dairy-free, Irish Belgian chocolatiers Chez Emily has made Dairy-Free Easter Bites – a delectable selection of dark chocolate caraques and Easter-themed vegan delights crafted with rich 70% dark chocolate. €12
An important note: with an estimated 64,790 tonnes of packaging expected to be recycled over the Easter holiday period, Repak is asking all consumers to recycle their packaging and reduce and reuse where possible.
